Infant holding device



Nov. 22, 1955 J. L. WHITTEN INFANT HOLDING DEVICE Filed July 1953 INVENTOR III/4'22 L. Wfiz'iien United States Patent @fice 2,724,124 Patented Nov. 22, 1955 INFANT HGLDING DEVICE John L. Whitten, Decatur, Ga. Application July 30, 1953, Serial No. 371,354

Claims. (Cl. 4-185) This invention relates to infant holding devices, and particularly to a device adapted to hold an infant safely and comfortably during bathing or feeding.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a novel device for holding infants in natural, semi-reclining position, securely but without direct restraint. A related object is to provide an infant holding device including no straps or other elements requiring fastening and unfastening, or which would interfere with washing an infant supported in the device.

Another object is to provide an infant holding device singularly convenient to use, and collapsible to occupy I minimum space when not in use.

A further object is to provide an infant holding device including a sturdy brace for support in operative position, and means for readily engaging and locking the brace in support position. The locking action of the device, furthermore, is implemented and maintained by the weight of an infant thereon.

Yet another object is to provide a device for holding infants during bathing which occupies minimum space in the bathing vessel, and permits use of small pans, basins and the like.

Still another object is to provide an infant holding device. of simple and sturdy construction, readily manufactured and including a minimum number of parts. Further objects will be in part evident and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention and the novel features thereof may best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevati'onal view of a preferred embodiment of the device, in operative position and supporting an infant for bathing;

Figure 2 is a top plan view corresponding to Figure 1, without the infant and with the fabric frame covering partiallybroken away;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view corresponding to Figure 1, showing the brace and the preferred selective locking means therefor;

Figure 4 is a partial view of the frame and brace arrangement, on enlarged scale, illustrating the locking section of the device and the manner of unlocking for folding, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the fabric frame covering.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises a frame indicated generally as 10, including a center section composed of spaced coplanar lengths 11 and 12,. The center section lengths are roughly parallel, but preferably are most widely spaced approximately midway thereof and converge at both ends, this being effected most simply by the bends 13 and 14 in lengths 11 and 12 respectively.

From one end of the center section extends a U-shaped seat section indicated generally as 15, comprising base 16 and legs 17 and 13, the legs extending from corresponding ends of lengths 11 and 12. As best shown in Figure l,

the seat section elements are disposed in a common plane which is angulated with respect to the center section by about 60. From the other ends of center section lengths 11 and 12 extend portions 19 and 21), inwardly turned therefrom and extending into substantial adjacency. The inner ends of portions 1h and 20 are joined in conventional fashion, as by weld 21, a clamp or the like.

Associated with frame 16 is a U-shaped brace 22, including a base 23 and arms 24 and 25 extending therefrom. The brace 22 preferably is pivotally engaged to the frame, as by means of the loops 26 and 27 formed at the ends of arms 24 and 25 and enclosing, respectively, the inwardly turned portions 19 and 29 of the frame. For convenience in transportation and storage the brace may be folded flat against the frame, but to operatively sup port the frame the brace must be angularly positioned with respect thereto at an angle of from about 60 to about as shown in Figure 1. For this purpose means are associated with the frame for selectively engaging and locking the brace in desired support position.

The locking means may take the form of reversely curved end elements extending from the inner ends of portions 19 and 211. Preferably, portions 19 and 20 beyond weld 21 are reversely curved in a plane substantially normal to that of the frame center section to constitute stop elements 28 and 29, which may be of the same length as or slightly shorter than portions 19 and 20. The stop elements 23 and 29 may parallel portions 19 and 20, but desirably diverge slightly therefrom. The outer ends of elements 28 and 29 in turn are reversely curved in a plane substantially parallel to the frame center section to form lock sockets 3d and 31, adapted to receive and retain the brace arms.

The brace 22 is desirably constructed of an integral length of wire, whereby it possesses inherent resilience permitting its arms 24 and 25 to be displaced from normal position relative to its base 23. To arrange and lock the device in operative position, the brace arms may be forced together with the fingers of a hand, the arm loops sliding on frame portions 19 and 20, and the brace then rotated outwardly from the frame to support position, whereat its arms encounter stop elements 28 and 29, as shown in Figure 4. At this point the arms may be released, whereupon they will spring outwardly into lock sockets 31) and 31, as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 4. In this fashion the device is readily positioned for use and locked. The device is as easily unlocked and folded, merely by forcing the brace arms inwardly to clear the lock sockets and then rotating the brace toward the frame. The angularity of the brace in sup port position is determined by the stop elements, and may be adjusted in accordance with infant growth or as otherwise desired by bending the stop elements, or by bending the brace arms.

As will be evident, the frame also may be constructed from an integral length of wire, whereby it possesses inherent resilience contributing materially to its novel and desirable functioning, presently to be described. For the purposes of the present specification and claims, the term wire is used in a broad sense, to include a slender rod of metal and also non-metallic materials of suitable resilience. Obviously, some synthetic organic plastic materials may be utilized to form the frame and brace.

In use, the frame and its seat section are enclosed by a fabric cover 32, in the nature of a bag or sack shaped to conform generally to the frame: and fit closely thereabout. As shown in Figure 5, the cover is conveniently provided with an open neck 33, adapted to be enlarged by a longitudinal side slit 34. With the slit open, the cover may be readily placed over the frame, and secured by closing slit 34 by any suitable fastening means such as the slide fastener 35, whereupon the cover neck will fit closely over the frame portions 19 and 20. The slide fastener and slit also permit ready removal of the cover from the frame, to permit wash ing, replacement and the like. The cover 32 may be formed of any suitable woven fabric, film or the like.

The operative disposition of the device is illustrated in Figure 1. As there shown, when resting on level surface 37 the brace 22 maintains the frame center section inclined at the angle of 45 more or less, and an infant 38 may be positioned in the device merely by resting it directly on the frame cover as shown. The infant is supported thereby over a wide area in semireclining, half-sitting position, the angulated seat section serving to prevent it from sliding down. The cover 32 molds itself to the infants form, and exerts inward tension on frame lengths 11 and 12 and the seat legs 17 and 18, displacing them inwardly and causing them to resiliently engage and press against the infants body. The result is that the infant is firmly held and may freely kick and wriggle without danger of spilling.

The resilient spring action of the frame and cover resemble suspension in a hammock, and resists inadvertent displacement of the infant in the same manner a hammock resists efforts to arise therefrom. The novel spring action of the device is enhanced by the bends 13 and 14 in legs 11 and 12, which not only shape the frame in general conformity with an infants body, but also tend to establish a center of suspension in the frame center section. Infant activity which changes its center of gravity so affects the resilient suspension that such changes are automatically compensated for and accommodated. The weight of the infant is effective, of course, to force the brace arms more firmly against the stop elements 28 and 29. If these diverge slightly from the frame portions 19 and 20, as is preferred, the infants weight will thereby tend to force and maintain the brace arms outwardly in the sockets 30 and 31. In this manner, the infants weight itself may be utilized to insure against inadvertent unlocking of the brace.

Accordingly, then, the device is most convenient to use, an infant being securely positioned therein by mere placement on the frame cover. To remove the infant, it need only be lifted therefrom. The infant is supported in comfortable, natural position, unrestricted by straps, lacings, or pads. not only precludes the necessity for fastening and unfastening thereof, but permits free access to all parts of the infants body for washing. Figure 1 illustrates a further advantage of the device in that it occupies almost no extra space in the washing vessel. lustrated, the frame may be placed adjacent the wall of a basin 39 with the brace 22 resting on surface 37 well outside the basin. This permits the use of a basin or similar receptacle of minimum size, and permits use The absence of such elements c As ili of the holding device with any vessel large enough to hold the infant in seated position.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention a structure in which the various objects hereinbefore set forth, together with many practical advantages, are successfully achieved. As various possi ble embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention, all without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An infant holding device comprising a wire frame including a center section composed of two spaced coplanar lengths, a U-shaped seat section having legs extending fixedly from corresponding ends of said center section lengths in a plane angulated with respect to the center section plane, and inwardly turned portions extending from the other ends of said center section lengths into substantial adjacency, the inner ends of said portions being joined, a U-shaped wire brace having legs pivotally secured to said portions, means associated with the joined ends of said frame to selectively engage and lock said brace in fixed angular relationship thereto, whereby the device may be supported on a planar surface on the separated ends of said frame center section and said brace with said seat section maintained at an angle with respect to the supporting surface, and a fabric covering en-' closing said frame.

2. An infant holding device according to claim 1, wherein said center section lengths are most Widely spaced adjacent the middle of the center section.

3. An infant holding device according to claim 2, wherein said fabric covering is shaped to conform generally to the frame and fit closely thereabout, and includes fastening means to permit ready placement and removal thereof.

4. An infant holding device according to claim 1, wherein said selective engaging and locking means constitutes reversely curved end elements extending from the inner ends of said inwardly turned frame portions to define inwardly facing sockets adapted to retain the brace legs.

5. An infant holding device according to claim 1, wherein said frame and selective engaging and locking means are formed from an integral length of wire.

McCauley June 28, 1932 Boyington Dec. 26, 1950 

